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Potential challenger to Gillibrand decides against starting campaign

U.S. Senate hopeful Marc Cenedella has decided not to challenge incumbent Democrat Kirsten E. Gillibrand, a top Republican source told The Buffalo News on Tuesday.

The source, who asked not to be identified, said the Fredonia native called him Tuesday afternoon to indicate his business interests would prevent a run this year.

"He said he just couldn't get his business in order for the new deadlines," the source said, referring to a June 26 congressional primary date recently ordered by a federal judge.

Cenedella, 41, is founder and chief executive officer of TheLadders.com, a highly successful job search website. He has been making the rounds over the past few weeks discussing a Gillibrand challenge with GOP leaders, who were taking his interest very seriously.

But the Manhattan resident also encountered serious difficulties in the past several weeks when the Huffington Post reported he was once sued for back pay and commissions by his own workers, who accused him of threatening to punish them for seeking redress.

The New York Times also reported that Cenedella's personal blog provided tips on searching for a job, but also featured several entries containing random observations about sex, women and drugs.